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The Slice: Here’s to the great state of Cheney

Second-grade teacher Amber Parviainen wanted her students to each select one of the states for a special project.

When asked, most had known that there are 50. So the teacher was optimistic. Plus, there was a big U.S. map on display at the front of the classroom.

But apparently the kids needed a bit more of a hint.

Among the “states” the students chose were Antarctica, South Pole, Mexico, Canada, Africa, Lewiston and Cheney.

Cheney? The state bird could be the eagle and the state motto might be “Not Afraid of Fluoride.”

“Is it spring break yet?” said Parviainen.

Rewriting some songs mentioned in last Sunday’s column: Bill Morrison would recast the “MacArthur Park” lyric “As we followed in the dance” to make it “As we followed in the mud.”

Patti Baird would change the first line of “Morning Has Broken” to “Starbucks has opened, I shouldn’t complain.”

Debbie Cross would begin that same song with “Asphalt has broken, potholes have formed.”

Steve Fucile would change the song title “Morning Has Broken” to “Potholes Have Spoken.”

Deb Pierce and Paula Blount each localized the opening of “Here Comes the Sun” with the same line: “Little marmot, it’s been a long cold lonely winter.”

But I’m declaring Brian Harrison the winner for his revision of the opening of “MacArthur Park.”

BYU was never waiting for us, Zags

It ran one step ahead

As we faltered in The Dance

Warm-up question: If one of your children had his or her heart set on a career in which one’s appearance is essential to advancement but your kid might not be considered by some to be great-looking, what would you say?

Today’s Slice questions: One of my readers who is a public official happened to mention that she’s not always sure about the true origins of hostility she encounters because, as she calmly put it, various people despise her for different reasons. That made me wonder.

Who, fairly or unfairly, is the most hated person in Spokane?

The most beloved?

Who might get votes for both?

Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; fax (509) 459-5098; email pault@spokesman.com. A reader noted a Coeur d’Alene reference in a Bill Bryson book.

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